Bottle with peelable label

ABSTRACT

A labeled bottle comprises an outer surface having at least one substantially flat face portion, and a label. The label includes a permanent label portion and at least one hinged leaf portion. The is configured to overlie at least a portion of the outer surface of the permanent label portion substantially adjacent to the at least one substantially flat face portion of the bottle. The bottle further comprises a re-sealable agent disposed between an inner surface of the at least one leaf portion and the outer surface of the permanent label portion in such manner as to re-sealably attach the leaf portion to the permanent label portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to labeled bottles, and labelsfor such bottles; and specifically to hinged labels and bottlescomprising them.

BACKGROUND

Bottles used for products such as medications, vitamins, food, liquids,and the like, often include one or more labels for displayinginformation and/or images associated with the contents of the bottle orwith the manufacturer of the product. In many industries, regulatory orother requirements may be imposed which specify at least a portion ofinformation that must be included on such a label. For example, bottlescontaining medications may be required to display information relatingto usage. active ingredients, recommended dosage and potential sideeffects of the medication.

The amount of information to be displayed on a label may be quitesignificant. If the printable area of a bottle label is not sufficientfor all the desired information, a manufacturer may need to either a)increase the size of the bottle in order to allow for a larger label orb) decrease the size of the printing and/or images.

Increasing the size of a bottle may be undesirable for a number ofreasons. First, requiring a larger bottle may increase manufacturing,storage and shipping costs. Retailers may prefer smaller bottles becauseless shelf space is required to display the bottles. Smaller bottles arealso desirable for environmental reasons due to the excess waste largerbottles may create.

Decreasing the size of the printing and/or images on a label may also beundesirable as this may reduce the visibility and/or legibility of theinformation. This may be particularly problematic to consumers withvisual impairments.

Therefore, it may be advantageous to maximize the printable area on alabel without requiring an increase in the size of the bottle to whichit is affixed.

SUMMARY

In one aspect the invention provides labeled bottles. A bottle accordingto such aspect comprises an outer surface having at least onesubstantially flat face portion, and a label. The label comprises apermanent label portion and at least one hinged leaf portion. Thepermanent label portion has an outer surface and a inner surface, theinner surface being attached to the outer surface of the bottle by anadhesive. The at least one hinged leaf portion is hingeably attached tothe outer surface of the permanent label portion, and is configured tooverlie at least a portion of the outer surface of the permanent labelportion. The portion of the permanent label portion overlaid by thehingeably-attached portion is substantially adjacent to the at least onesubstantially flat face portion of the bottle. The labeled bottlefurther comprises a re-sealable agent (also known as a ‘release agent’)disposed between an inner surface of the at least one leaf portion andthe outer surface of the permanent label portion in such manner as tore-sealably attach the leaf portion to the permanent label portion.

The label, or portions of it, may be laminated, and may comprise one ormore tabs configured to aid in peeling the hinged leaf portion from thepermanent label portion. The label may comprise a plurality of hingedleaf portions hingeably attached to the outer surface of the permanentlabel portion.

Labels in accordance with the invention, or various portions thereof,may comprise information printed theren for consideration by a user ofthe bottle and/or its contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way of exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 a shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of a bottle inaccordance with the disclosure, comprising a hinged, peelable labelportion in a closed position.

FIG. 1 b shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a bottle consistentwith FIG. 1 a, and showing a second hinged, peelable label portion.

FIG. 2 a shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of a bottle inaccordance with the disclosure, comprising a hinged, peelable labelportion in an open position.

FIG. 2 b shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a bottle consistentwith FIG. 2 a, and showing a second hinged, peelable label portion, eachhinged label portions in an open position.

Throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by likereference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show an example of acombination 100 in accordance with the invention, comprising a bottle101 and a peelable label 102 affixed thereto in accordance with thedisclosure herein.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, bottle 101 forms a vessel forcontaining any solids, liquids, etc. as desired, including for exampleany bottles known in the art and otherwise compatible with thedisclosure herein, and comprises a plurality of substantially flat faceportions 120, 122; corners 123 connecting the substantially flat faceportions in a desirably fluid- or solid-tight configuration; and a cap124 of suitable configuration.

Bottle 101 may be made of any material suitable for its intendedpurpose, such as, for example, glass, metal or plastic. Thecross-section of bottle 101, and in particular the plan cross-section(i.e., an upwardly- or downwardly-considered cross section whenconceptually viewed along a horizontal plane through the bottle, asshown in FIGS. 1 b and 2 b), may be of any shape any suitable shape,such as, for example, square, rectangular, rounded (with, as explainedbelow, a relatively large radius of curvature) or triangular. It may beparticularly advantageous to use labels 102 in combination with bottlesof substantially rectangular cross section, as they provide relativelylarge substantially flat surfaces on which to place re-sealable inaccordance with the disclosure, and it may be advantageous, in variousapplications, for all or substantially all of a re-sealably peelablehinge portion of a label to overlie a substantially flat portion of theouter surface of the bottle. Moreover, bottles of substantiallyrectangular cross section (as shown in FIGS. 1-2) may offer otheradvantages such as, for example, very efficient packaging in boxes andstorage on shelves, etc. The contents of bottle 101 may include any typeof solid or liquid substance(s) such as, for example, medications,vitamins, food, liquids, or the like. Those of skill in the art willrecognize that a wide variety of bottles are suitable for use withpeelable label 102 in accordance with the invention.

It has been found that the use of bottles having one or moresubstantially flat faces, as for example any one or more of faces 120 ofbottle 101 shown in the figures, are particularly well suited toimplementation of the invention, as hinged leaf portions of labels ofthe type described herein are enabled to re-close, or re-seal, withoutassistance from a user of the bottle, or with reduced assistance fromsuch user, in a noticeably improved fashion. Such bottles include, forexample, bottles of substantially rectangular cross section.

To say that a curved surface such as those of bottle faces 120 of FIGS.1 and 2 is substantially flat means, functionally, that they aresufficiently flat to allow hinged or other re-sealably engaged leafportions as described herein to re-close, or re-seal, when released froman open position, without significant assistance from a user of thebottle, or with reduced assistance. For example, it has been found thatbottles having faces which comprise radii of curvature of approximatelyten inches, or ⅓ meter, or more, will serve, when implemented usingmaterials as disclosed or suggested herein. A bottle of approximatelythe geometry shown in FIGS. 1-2 (particularly FIGS. 1 b and 2 b), takenas actual size when printed on letter-sized paper, will serve well,particularly with respect to faces 120, 122.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, label 102 comprises permanentlabel portion 104 and a plurality (in the example shown, two) hingedleaf portions 103. Permanent label portion 104 includes an outer surface109 (i.e., the surface visible to a viewer of the bottle when the labelis installed on the bottle) and an inner surface, 110.

Peelable label 102 may be comprised of any suitable material(s) orcombination(s) of materials, such as, for example, any or all of paper,plastic, and a wide variety of polymers. For example, a label comprisingone or more plies of polymer film or paper and polymer film laminatewill serve. The selection of suitable label materials will not troublethose skilled in the relevant art(s), once they have been made familiarwith this disclosure. A suitable material or combination of materials isa material or combination having a sufficient combination of flexibilityand rigidity (or resiliency) that, when used in conjunction with releaseagent(s) as disclosed herein, an opened hinged leaf portion 103 tends toresealably close itself when released by a user of the bottle.

It has been found that suitably-configured labels composed of paperlaminated with various plastics, such as for example acetate, vinyl,polypropylene (including for example biaxially oriented polyproylene, orBOPP) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film provide a number ofadvantages, such as sufficiently high strength, flexibility,resiliency(or rigidity), transparency, resistance to tearing, etc. to accomplishthe purposes herein. The use of BOPP, acetate, vinyl, and/or PETlaminates can for example provide enough stiffness to aid in unassistedresealing, when used with release agents as described herein, withoutunduly hindering a user in opening the label as, for example, to readmaterial printed on either side thereof. Laminated paper used inimplementing the invention may be of any weight and/or thicknesscompatible with the purposes disclosed herein, for example within therange of about 40 to about 200 grams per square meter (g/m²), andparticularly within the range of about 30 to about 150 grams per squaremeter (g/m²).

As a specific example, it has been found that in combination with abottle of approximately the dimensions shown in FIGS. 1-2 (taken aslife-sized), a combination of laminated paper with BOPP coating,permanent adhesive, and release agent according to the followingspecifications will serve:

1 ml lam P/P paper, with film and permanent adhesive 30 g/m² 3.2 rawBOPP 56 g/m² Release agent (as below) 54 g/m² Combination - adhesive,paper, laminate, release agent: 140 g/m²  2.6 ml w/BOPP

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, permanent label portion 104comprises outer surface(s) 109 and inner surface(s) 110. Outer surface109 of permanent label portion 104 may have information printed thereonincluding, for example, words or images. Inner surface 110 may beaffixed to the outer surface of bottle 101 using an adhesive 107disposed, for example, in a layer on some or all of inner surface 110 ofpermanent label portion 104 and/or on the outer surface of bottle 101.Adhesive 107 may comprise any suitable adhesive material useful foraffixing labels. Permanent label portion 104 may be affixed around anyor all of the circumference of bottle 101. In some embodiments, one endof permanent label portion 104 may overlap another end of permanentlabel portion 104.

Leaf portion(s) 103 may be hingedly attached to the outer surface of thepermanent label portion 104 such that it/they overlie at least a portionof the outer surface of permanent label portion 104, and particularly sothat each can overlie at least a portion of a substantially flat portionof the outer surface of bottle 101. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show leafportion(s) 103 in a closed attached positions.

Leaf portion(s) 103 may be provided through the use of separate labelportions, permanently adhered to permanent label portion 104, and/orthrough the use of a single label, wrapped around the bottle 101 andpermanently adhered thereto so as to overlap itself and overhang by alength sufficient to provide a pendant, hinged leaf 103.

Leaf portion(s) 103 may comprise one or more tab portions 105 useful inaiding in the release or opening of leaf portion(s) 103 as will bediscussed below in relation to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. In some embodiments,the radius of the bottle, and particularly a corner radius 123, mayallow tab portion 105 to “pop out”, making it easier for a consumer tograb and use the tab. For example, in some embodiments, the bottle mayhave a substantially rectangular cross-section such that the tab portionis in close proximity to a sharp curvature of the bottle making causingthe tab portion 105 to partially release from permanent label portion104.

A peelable label 102 may comprise a single piece of material whichincludes one or more integral leaf portion(s) 103 configured for foldingor otherwise hingeable attachment. Alternatively, leaf portion(s) 103may be a separate piece of material attached to permanent label portion104. In some embodiments, a permanent adhesive substance may be used tohingedly attach leaf portion(s) 103 to permanent label portion 104.

A re-sealing, or release, agent 108 may be disposed, as for example in aspread or affixed layer, between leaf portion(s) 103 and permanent labelportion 104. Re-sealable agent layer 108 may be adapted to keep leafportion(s) 103 attached to permanent label portion 104 when leafportion(s) 103 is in a closed or attached position, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1 b. This release agent layer may comprise any type of releasableagent suitable for use with a label described herein. The re-sealableagent may be applied to leaf portion(s) 103 or permanent label portion104 or both. Examples of compounds which have been reported to have beenused as release agents 108 with satisfactory results includeultraviolet-light (UV)-activated flexographic silicone-based releaseagents. A specific example of a release agent reported to have been usedsatisfactorily is Crystal Coat Barrier CAOP-3631 from Akzo Nobel, Inc.

Permanent attachment of label 102 to bottle 101 may be accomplishedthrough the use of any adhesive compatible with the purposes andmaterials disclosed or suggested herein. Examples of compounds whichhave reportedly been used permanent adhesives by others, in analogousapplications, Fasson S-1000, S-900, or S-2001.

The combination(s) of label materials, adhesives, and bottle geometrydisclosed herein may be exploited to provide labels which are flexibleenough to open easily, as for example to allow a user of a bottle toread material printed on the label(s), yet stiff enough re-close, orre-seal, without or substantially without assistance from such user. Inparticular, the re-closing or re-sealing process has been observed to bematerially aided through the use of bottles 101 having substantiallyflat surfaces overlaid with re-openable, re-closeable, and/orre-sealable hinged portions, coated with resealing agents, as disclosedherein. Thus in some embodiments, the material(s) used in creating leafportion(s) 103 may be rigid but still elastic enough to bias back to theclosed position. For example, in some embodiments, leaf portion(s) 103may comprise paper permanently coated with a laminate coating. Thelaminate coating may be comprised of plastic or any suitable material.

The outside surface 112 of leaf portion(s) 103 may have informationprinted thereon including, for example, words or images representinguseful information about the contents of a bottle, a manufacturer,warnings, etc.

Leaf portion(s) 103 may be configured to as to provide a gap 106 betweenleaf portion(s) 103 in a closed position and a main part of permanentlabel portion 104. Gap 106 may be useful in the releasing andreattaching of leaf portion(s) 103.

Peelable label 102 may comprise any number of leaf portions 103. Forexample, in FIG. 1b, peelable label 102 is shown with two leaf portions103, one on either side of bottle 101.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b which show an example ofa bottle 101 with an embodiment of a peelable label 102 affixed theretowith leaf portion(s) 103 shown in an open or released position inaccordance with the invention.

Leaf portion 103 may be released from, and subsequently re-attached to,permanent label portion 104. Releasing leaf portion(s) 103 may requireforce to be applied to the label, such as a consumer pulling on tabportion 105. In some embodiments, once the force is removed from leafportion(s) 103, leaf portion(s) 103 may automatically return to a closedposition.

The use of a permanent adhesive substance to hingedly attach leafportion(s) 103 to permanent label portion 104, as described above, mayhelp limit the amount that leaf portions(s) 103 may be pulled away frompermanent label portion 104 which may help ensure that leaf portions(s)103 will automatically return to a closed position.

As noted, the use of a substantially rectangular bottle 101 havingsubstantially flat sides may also help ensure that leaf portions(s) 103will automatically return to a closed position as leaf portions(s) 103will generally not be pulled as far from the closed position as with,for example, a substantially round bottle 101.

Leaf portion(s) 103 comprises an inner surface 111, some or all of whichmay be visible when leaf portion(s) 103 is in an open position as shownin FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. Inner surface 111 of leaf portion(s) 103 may haveinformation printed thereon including, for example, words or images. Thearea of permanent label portion 104 underlying leaf portion(s) 103 whenthe leaf portion(s) 103 is in a closed position may also haveinformation printed thereon including, for example, words or images. Insome embodiments, information may be displayed on peelable label 102 ina format similar to a book when leaf portion(s) 103 is in an openposition, as shown in FIG. 2 a.

While the disclosure has been provided and illustrated in connectionwith specific, presently-preferred embodiments, many variations andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention(s) disclosed herein. The disclosure and invention(s) aretherefore not to be limited to the exact components or details ofmethodology or construction set forth above. Except to the extentnecessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular orderto steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure,including the Figures, is intended or implied. In many cases the orderof process steps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect, orimport of the methods described. The scope of the claims is to bedefined solely by the appended claims, giving due consideration to thedoctrine of equivalents and related doctrines.

1. A combination bottle and label, comprising: a bottle having an outersurface comprising at least one substantially flat face portion; a labelhaving a permanent label portion and at least one hinged leaf portion,the permanent label portion having an outer surface and an innersurface, the inner surface attached to the outer surface of the bottleby an adhesive; the at least one hinged leaf portion hingeably attachedto the outer surface of the permanent label portion and biased toward aclosed position in which the at least one hinged leaf portion isconfigured to overlie at least a portion of the outer surface of thepermanent label portion, said portion of the outer surface of thepermanent label portion substantially adjacent to the at least onesubstantially flat face portion of the bottle; and a release agentdisposed between an inner surface of the at least one hinged leafportion and the outer surface of the permanent label portion tore-sealably attach the at least one hinged leaf portion to the permanentlabel portion.
 2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of theat least one hinged leaf portion is laminated.
 3. The bottle of claim 1,wherein the hinged leaf portion comprises a tab configured to aid inpeeling the hinged leaf portion from the permanent label portion.
 4. Thebottle of claim 1, comprising a plurality of hinged leaf portionshingeably attached to the outer surface of the permanent label portion.5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the at least onehinged leaf portion comprises printed information.
 6. The bottle ofclaim 1, wherein the portion of the outer surface of the permanent labelportion covered by the at least one hinged leaf portion when the atleast one hinged leaf portion is in the closed position comprisesprinted information.
 7. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the permanentlabel portion is secured around substantially the entire circumferenceof the bottle.
 8. The bottle of claim 1, comprising a substantiallyrectangular plan cross section.
 9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein thepermanent label portion and the at least one hinged leaf portioncomprise paper laminated with a polymer.
 10. The bottle of claim 1,wherein the release agent is a silicone-based flexographic compound.